Speakers for 2025 Include

Matt Abney is the Senior Director of Real Estate at EIT, leading the strategic planning, acquisition, and management of the company’s real estate portfolio. With 20 years of experience in corporate real estate, Matt specializes in identifying and developing lab and research spaces, fostering environments that enable discovery. His expertise spans site selection, lease negotiations, development, and portfolio management, ensuring that real estate investments align with EIT’s long-term goals.

Before joining EIT, Matt was the Corporate Managing Director of Project Management at Savills and played a key role in the design and construction of the Ellison Medical Institute’s Los Angeles facility. He joined Savills from the Los Angeles County Community Development Commission where he focused on growth & development opportunities for underserved communities.

Rob is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and has worked specifically in the planning and property area of communications for nearly 30 years. He has provided strategic advice on proposals across all sectors of property including large urban extensions, retail, sports stadia and large scale distribution.

Matthew is the Founder and Managing Director of UK Property Forums. Established in 2004, UKPF enables conferences, events and networking opportunities across the Greater Thames Valley region including Oxford, Reading and Aylesbury. As part of the range of events which UKPF have created, he leads UK Prop Social, a networking club for 150+ members and also the Thames Valley offer at MIPIM UK and MIPIM Cannes, France. Having lived and studied in the Thames Valley, he is very informed about the region and passionate about the development of a group for all those involved in the Thames Valley property markets.

Hannah has over 20 years of experience in local government in planning, transport economy and environment sectors. She has been with the council for the past 9 years in various roles securing vital government funding, she played a pivotal role in obtaining Oxfordshire’s £500 million Housing Infrastructure Funding and setting up teams to deliver. She has also been instrumental in working with housing and commercial developers, ensuring their contributions towards critical infrastructure projects within the county.

Prior to this, Hannah’s held a number of roles in Buckinghamshire County Council leading on transport strategy and sustainable development, strategic infrastructure and regeneration projects including plans to reshape Buckinghamshire’s towns. 

Currently, Hannah is leading on strategic land use and transport planning, place based planning approaches and healthy place shaping, promoting places which support health and wellbeing of residents. She is a strong advocate for enhanced community engagement and co-production, driving positive change through collaboration, both internally in the organisation and externally with stakeholders and partners.

Hugh enjoyed a highly successful career as a commercial property lawyer, leading one of the major real estate firms in the country. Having graduated from University College Oxford and trained in the City, Hugh returned to Oxford in 1986 where he now works as a consultant to the property community. He believes that whilst there is much to admire in recent developments, the plans which are being forged to harness and accommodate the activity in the region will make the next few years the most exciting in the region for decades.

Craig Bower is a Digital Infrastructure Consultant currently working at Oxfordshire County Council, where he has delivered a highly successful Digital Infrastructure programme led by the county council.  Craig is responsible for setting the strategy, signed off by Cabinet, and building a formal Partnership with city and district councils across the county, successfully delivering large contracts with the private sector valued at over £35m, as well as forming partnerships with telecoms operators and central government.  Craig has twenty years’ experience in the telecoms industry with BT Global Service and Vodafone. 

Tom is a chartered town planner who has worked across the public, private and social enterprise sectors. He joined Oxford City Council is April 2019 as the Executive Director of Development, where he has responsibility for planning, property, housing supply, regeneration, economic development & city centre management. In February 2025 he became Deputy Chief Executive – Place, which includes additional responsibilities including environment & sustainability, and regulatory services.

He is also a director of Oxford West End Developments (OXWED), which is the Council’s joint venture with Nuffield College, currently bringing forward the Oxpens redevelopment, and Barton LLP, the council’s JV with Grosvenor now in the final stages of the city’s Barton urban extension. Tom is also the council’s client for OX Place, its wholly owned housing company.  

Other key projects being led by Tom include the Blackbird Leys estate regeneration, major improvements to the Covered Market, plans to reopen the Cowley Branch Line, and a refresh of masterplan for Oxford train station. He is also leading the work for the City Council to establish the Oxford Growth Commission, working with MHCLG, HMT and the County Council. 

Prior to joining Oxford City Council, Tom was the Assistant Director for Area Regeneration at Lambeth Council, where he delivered a range of mixed use, public realm and meanwhile projects. He joined Lambeth from AECOM, where he led numerous masterplanning, regeneration and infrastructure planning projects.

He has also worked for the Greater London Authority, establishing the Royal Docks Enterprise Zone, and working as part of the team that secured the funding package for the Northern Line Extension. Tom began his career at Renaisi, a social enterprise based in east London, where he led the Woodberry Down and Stamford Hill Single Regeneration Budget programme.

David is the Director of Planning & Regulation at Oxford City Council, leading an area that covers a wide array of regulatory regimes such as food hygiene and private rented sector licensing as well as planning, planning policy and heritage. David has previously worked in Coventry and Warwick principally leading strategic planning and economic development functions.

David leads the City’s response to the changing face of planning in a high-growth, highly sensitive, globally important city. His teams are currently taking the revised Local Plan 2042 through to public consultation later in the year, whilst also shaping and enabling the array of exciting current developments.

Charles Butters is the Founding Director of Sulgrave Advisors Limited, a consultancy business that advises property owners, investors, developers and operators with a focus on creating assets and places that are resilient and successful.  Prior to Sulgrave Advisors, Charles was Head of Investment at British Land.  Charles studied at Oxford University and has lived close to Oxford for over 15 years.  He has been active in the Oxford property market for a number of years and since April 2024 he has been Strategic Property Advisor to Oxfordshire County Council.

Victoria Collett joined Thomas White Oxford, the development company of St John’s College, as Development Director in April 2022 to deliver Oxford North, the £700 million new global innovation district.

Victoria joined from Legal & General Capital where she headed development for its Suburban Build to Rent business, building-up a portfolio of projects with its sister companies and local authority partners including the North Horsham masterplan in West Sussex. Victoria is a chartered surveyor with 20 years’ development and regeneration experience specialising in development management and financial advisory for the public and private sectors.

Victoria has worked across England and Wales as a consultant, including at CBRE and Navigant Consulting, acting for many public bodies and third sector organisations, to achieve their real estate objectives through projects including the Canning Town & Custom House masterplan and the regeneration of South Kilburn. She spent eight years in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, as lead advisor to Abu Dhabi Municipality’s Investment Office, with a development portfolio of more than forty projects. She delivered projects including Al Qana and Sheikha Fatima Park, which represented step-changes in the city’s real estate offer.

Mike Doran is the Asset and Leasing Manager at Bicester Manager responsible for looking after the 50 plus businesses currently on site.

Chris heads up the acquisition team at Freshwave, the connectivity infrastructure-as-a-service provider bringing mobile operators, central and local government, and real estate providers together to work in new ways. He’s been at the intersection of digital connectivity and real estate for over 20 years, having worked with a major UK mobile network for over 20 years in roles covering radio networks, estates management and portfolio change. He’s passionate about transforming real estate so that it best meets the needs of its users.

Chris was on the board of the British Council for Offices for three years. He’s a non-executive director of Trustek, a board member of CREW UK and is a director of Work Reconstructed. 

Andy Edwards is Executive Director and co-founder of Makespace Oxford CIC, a community business working to unlock empty and underused spaces for communities and purpose-driven organisations. It adopts the strategy of meanwhile as a catalyst to build towards spatial justice and systemic change. Andy is also co-founder of Transition by Design, a co-operative architecture practice committed to low carbon and participatory design and has a background in housing activism, architecture, strategic and regenerative design.

Placi has over 20 years in the consulting world, with a robust commercial acumen, funding intelligence and a passion for developing new and exciting innovation ecosystems. She is also TEDx Speaker, a natural connector and champion of collaborations, driven by the opportunity to support sustainable economic growth whilst enhancing the environment at her role within the Oxford to Cambridge Partnership. She has held a number of roles within the Commercial Property sector in the past, which gives her indistinctively great inside knowledge of this industry within this region and beyond.

She is Director of Investment and Innovation, leading the innovation and Economy Working Group for the Oxford to Cambridge Partnership, focusing Internationalisation, Sustainable Economic Development and Innovation collaboration.

Caroline has been Chief Executive of Oxford City Council since March 2021 and is responsible for the overall running of the council and the pursuit of its objectives for Oxford to secure an inclusive economy, more affordable housing, thriving communities and a zero carbon future. Prior to that she was Assistant Chief Executive at the Council and has led the council’s work across a range of its strategic partnerships spanning growth and investment in housing and infrastructure, community safety, safeguarding, and charting the council’s way forward from COVID-19.

Prior to coming to Oxford, Caroline worked in Westminster leading on housing, transport, planning and environmental work for the Local Government Association.

Caroline has a strong track record on partnership working including Oxford’s universities and close working with other local authorities in Oxfordshire, including experience of negotiation on devolution and securing a growth deal with government.

Ian Green, Chair of the Oxford Civic Society, is an ‘almost-retired’ urban and regional development planner.

Working with the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, United Nations and others, Ian has advised central and local governments, private developers and communities in 16 countries.   He sees much of this international work as peculiarly relevant to the challenges facing Oxford and Oxfordshire.

Ian has been an Oxford resident for 45 years, and is a long-time member of the Civic Society, He is particularly active in the Society’s Oxfordshire Futures Group, Planning and Transport Groups, the newly formed Community Impact Group, and the Communications and Programmes Groups.

Ian is also one of 5 Civic Society chairs who formed the Alliance of Historic Cathedral Cities and Towns which has been commissioned by Historic England to undertake research on balancing heritage and growth in selected English historic cities.

Greg is Deputy Chief Executive of the Hill Group, a top 10 housebuilder delivering design-led homes across the South of England. The Hill Group is a specialise in partnership working delivering alongside Local Authorities, Registered Providers and other long-term investors and institutions.

Greg runs several of our Regional business units, where he is responsible for delivering projects from inception to completion, including spearheading our growth in Oxford and surrounding areas.

Greg is responsible for many of our major land acquisitions and joint venture projects. Greg has devised and led on some of our largest and most successful partnerships and sits on many joint venture boards, ensuring Hill’s partnership ethos is upheld. He is a member of our Holdings board, retains responsibility for group strategy, procedures, and policy, and established our sustainability and social value initiatives.

Prior to working at the Hill Group, Greg advised Boards of major financial institutions on key strategic matters. He graduated from Oxford University with a degree in Economics and Management.

Freddie is a Director at Belport which specialises in acquisition, development and strategic management of farms and mixed-use rural estates. Belport manages over £400 million of assets. Freddie joined Belport in 2023 with 15 years of UK and European real estate experience. He joined from Tritax where he was involved in the IPO of Tritax EuroBox plc in 2018, subsequent equity raises and debt structuring. As Investment Director, he originated transactions of pan-European logistics warehousing, assisting in growth of the company to a portfolio value of over £1.6bn.  As Assistant Fund Manager for a balance fund at Tritax, he oversaw transactions and asset management of a UK commercial property portfolio. He has worked at Legal & General IM in asset management for their Leisure Fund and a balanced UK fund. Freddie qualified as a chartered Surveyor in 2010 with Montagu Evans working in their valuation and investment departments.

Sebastian Johnson is a dynamic leader in the UK’s innovation and investment landscape, currently driving growth and collaboration as part of the ARC Group and Harwell Science and Innovation Campus. With a career spanning private, public and charity sectors, Sebastian previously played a pivotal role at the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) and Oxford City Council, fostering economic development and supporting the region’s world-leading science and technology ecosystem. Passionate about creating opportunities for cutting-edge companies and innovators, he remains dedicated to advancing the UK’s and Oxfordshire’s position as a global hub for research, development, and investment.

Laura is a commercial real estate lawyer with an ESG focus. She has substantial experience of a diverse range of commercial property and construction matters, acting for investment funds, landowners and occupiers, developers and charities. Laura advises science park owners and occupiers on lab space development and letting, with substantial experience across Oxford, Cambridge and London. She also advises universities and colleges in the management and development of their estates.  With a keen interest in ESG and responsible real estate, Laura leads the Mills & Reeve Real Estate ESG Group, drafting and maintaining a suite of contractual ESG provisions and advising clients on their inclusion and implementation. She regularly presents to clients and publishes articles on ESG and sustainability matters.

Charlie Maynard is the Liberal Democrat MP for Witney, since his election in July 2024. His main campaigns are; putting Thames Water into Special Administration, improving healthcare and SEND provision in his constituency, repairing trade relations with Europe and re-building the railway in Witney.

From 2022 until March 2025 Charlie was the West Oxfordshire District Councillor for Standlake, Aston and Stanton Harcourt. He spent three years volunteering as Chair of the Witney Oxford Transport Group, leading the project to rebuild the railway line linking Carterton, Witney, Eynsham and Oxford. 

He was previously the Co-Founder and Senior Managing Director of BDA. Since founding BDA in 1996, Mr. Maynard has been based in Singapore, Tokyo, New York, Beijing, and now London. Mr. Maynard was based in Tokyo from 2002 to 2005 and established BDA’s office there and in Seoul. He has advised on a number of successful transactions throughout the region. Mr. Maynard advised Navis Capital in China’s largest control exit in 2014 by a private equity group, the sale of Trio to Weir plc. In 2015 he has advised Cosma (a Magna International subsidiary) on its acquisition of Chongqing Xingqiao and Cristal on its acquisition of Jiangxi Tikon. Prior to BDA, he worked for the Jardine Matheson Group in Hong Kong and Singapore. In 2011, he was named by M&A Advisor as one of their “40 Under 40” global M&A professionals. 

With over 30 years of experience in the UK South East property market, Guy Parkes has developed a well-rounded industry perspective, having worked with major PLC companies and leading property consultancies. His expertise lies in bridging the gap between landlords and tenants, ensuring the deployment of strategic and effective real estate solutions.

Guy has advised across multiple sectors, including hotel & leisure, retail, and logistics during his time at Booker PLC, before moving on to office and industrial disposals and acquisitions at JLL, where he set up their South East regional office and served as EMEA Director for the Western Corridor region. He has led transactions on landmark properties across the South East, including major business parks, and has a unique skill set in repositioning and relaunching properties to the market.

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Ashley is an architect and workplace consultant with over 20 years in the building industry. She has worked on various masterplanning schemes and new build projects before focussing on workplace consultancy uniting her passion for design, social dynamics, technology, and placemaking. She believes workplaces should go beyond functionality to inspire and connect — connecting people to their purpose and each other driving innovation and creativity. Her work emphasises accessibility and inclusion, ensuring environments can support individuals’ diverse needs while fostering wellbeing and empowering productivity.

Through her projects, Ashley focuses on sustainability and designing spaces that align with environmentally responsible practices. Ashley has had the privilege of driving transformations that have enhanced organisational culture and performance.

Having studied at Oxford Brookes University, Ashley holds fond memories of living in Oxford. As a member of the rowing club, she spent many early mornings and countless hours on the river, fostering a strong sense of discipline, teamwork, and perseverance.

Emily is an experienced project manager having worked in the built environment for over 20 years’. She has a considerable track record in complex development projects, including large residential projects, higher education, major office refurbishment and new-build, as well as being a specialist in the science and technology sector.  Emily manages the growing Oxford Project Management team for Savills and has led on significant science and technology schemes, including British Land’s Botley Road development, 1000 Discovery Drive at Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Begbroke Science Park’s two new lab buildings and Harwell’s Co-labs. As well as office schemes such as Fetter Yard and 100 Union Street and residential schemes, including Rathbone Place for Great Portland Estates, Xchange Point and numerous prime residential schemes in London’s prestigious districts.  Emily’s broad experience, diligence, strategic mind and creativity is a real asset to the evolution and delivery of successful development projects and her passion and collaborative nature facilitates motivated and cohesive project teams.

Richard was educated at St Edward’s, Oxford and Exeter University where he gained a geography degree. He commenced his surveying career in 1989 at Gerald Eve in London. He joined James Offen and Partners and in 2002 jointly started VSL. Richard has considerable experience in office, industrial, retail, development and investment agency work. Richard dedicates considerable time and energy to economic and cultural development in Oxfordshire. He is a board member of Experience Oxfordshire and Active Oxfordshire, a member of the Ashmolean corporate circle, a member of the Oxford City Council Economic Growth Steering Group and Chair of Reciprocate.  Richard was appointed Deputy Lieutenant for Oxfordshire in 2017 and High Sheriff of Oxfordshire in 2018/19. Outside work he is a hockey fanatic playing at Oxford Hawks Hockey Club and an enthusiastic park runner.

Rachel Wood is a chartered planning and development surveyor and managing director of Sladen Estates, a national developer working across Build to Rent, Student, industrial and logistics, offices and retail sectors with a development portfolio of £1bn. In Oxfordshire, Bicester Arc is a 45 acre prestige office and tech site adjacent to Bicester Village.

Prior to being at Sladen Estates Rachel worked at AMEC, now Muse, on delivering major regeneration projects before setting up her own industrial development company. She thinks it important to give back so lectures third year students at Oxford Brookes University.